Wilshere 10 as Arsenal update squad numbers

Arsenal have re-jigged the squad numbers for this season in the wake of Robin van Quisling’s departure to Manchester United.

It was expected that Lukas Podolski would take the turncoat’s number but instead Jack Wilshere will wear the number 10 as soon as he’s fit (you may insert your own gag involving MONTH + YEAR IN THE FUTURE).

Podolski will wear 9 while Santi Cazorla takes Wilshere’s old number, 19. Ju Young Park is now number 30 but with the South Korean likely to leave the club before the end of the transfer window we don’t suppose it really makes a great deal of difference.

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed the departure of the Dutch fifth columnist in polite fashion but stopped short of the traditional wishing the player well with his future career.

Compare and contrast that announcement with that of Carlos Vela and it’s clear to see that nobody wishes him well at all. Unless we’re talking about him falling into a wishing well, in which case I wish for that (but not for Sting to record a charity record to raise funds to get him out).

Long live Jack 10, who told Arsenal.com, “It’s such an honour for me. Getting the No 10 shirt again at the Club means so much to me as I wore it all through the youth teams at Arsenal.

“It has a special place for all attacking or creative players. I feel proud to wear it now after some real Club legends have worn it, such as Dennis Bergkamp.

“Now I am even more excited about returning to action and honouring the shirt.”